With the well-received new album The Crux released earlier this month, Djo – the musical project of Joe Keery – embarked on the Back on You World Tour. With the band’s sold-out run continuing in Detroit, the hype was palpable: Interest in the show resulted in the Michigan stop moving up from Royal Oak Music Theatre to the Masonic Temple (roughly doubling the capacity for fans), with lines to enter the venue sprawling around the block. Here are five moments that stood out from the show:
Post Animal Preview New Tunes (With Keery)
In the opening slot, Post Animal took the stage for an already-packed crowd. Keery notably played with the Chicago psych-rockers in an earlier stint, and it was recently revealed that he would be back in the fold for the band’s upcoming album Iron, so it was fitting the band brought him out for their set. The screams and cheers reached a fever pitch when Keery emerged, and Post Animal really hit their stride by previewing new Iron track “Last Goodbye,” which was buoyed by strong vocal harmonies across the band. Set closer “Dirtpicker” ended on a high note with its rollicking guitar riffs.
Djo’s Classic Rock Time Machine
Listening to Djo’s discography evokes a wide-ranging set of influences – from the likes of ’60s psychedelic rock to ’70s/’80s new wave and power pop to those genres’ modern descendants. This broad sonic palette provided a dynamic backdrop for the band to bounce between sounds for a shape-shifting live performance. The opening sequence exemplified this, from the skittering synths of “Runner” to the scuzzy riffs of “Gloom” to Keery’s exuberant power pop vocals of “Link” to the jaunty keys of “Charlie’s Garden.”
Ecstatic Audience
Throughout the show, the fans kept the energy elevated. The audience eagerly bounced and sang along to “Basic Being Basic,” swayed in a sea of illuminated cell phone lights on “Lonesome Is a State of Mind,” clapped in time with the grooving “Delete Ya,” and raucously cheered for the anthemic “Gap Tooth Smile.”
Expanding the Jams
In a few key spots, Djo expanded their track recordings to sprawl into more extensive jams. The sultry “Figure You Out” featured a squiggly guitar solo and shimmering keys; “Chateau (Feel Alright” impressed with its echoey psych rock, especially in its fuzzy opening riff; and “Roddy” thrilled with the massive electronic breakdown in the track’s back half.
Finishing Strong (on a School Night)
The end of the main set was keyed by the lush acoustic guitar textures of “Potion,” with the band leading a clap/singalong. As Djo departed the stage, the cheers once again ratcheted up to a deafening pitch. The band returned with the lively riffs and strong vocal harmonies of “Back on You.”
“It’s a school night, but one more?” Keery polled the crowd after the first track of the encore. The fans roared in approval, jumping along once more to scuzzy garage rocker “Flash Mountain,” with the Post Animal crew sharing the stage with Djo for a rambunctious finish to the night.
